can I get council tax reduction for run down outlook

valmik

can anyone out there please tell me if I can get a council tax reduction and if so how I go about it. I am in band D its a really nice tidy road but I live on the end and my outlook is 10 council garages which have the paint peeling off and graffiti written all over them a real eyesore they have not been painted for at least 15-20 years.thanks

vivatifosi

Hi valmik,

There has been a tribunal case won where a person lived near a college and the college was then shut and fell into disrepair. They were able to prove that this affected the value of the house and consequently won.

In order for the garages to be of importance, you would need to find out what condition they were in when CT was introduced, maybe ask an EA for a value and what effect the poor state of the garages has on the value (remember, they shouldn't compare your house to one without the garages, rather to what it would be like if the garages were in good order). You will also need to be able to show that the garages were in good order when the CT was introduced.

If you are able to prove you can ask for a reduction in council tax on the grounds of material reduction in the value of your house as a result of changes in the physical locality of where your house is situated. Make sure that you state that as your reason for requesting a change in band and enclose your evidence, otherwise you are unlikely to have a case.

Whether or not you will be successful is a really moot question. I've seen issues such as the college being accepted, but others including the construction of a tower block in front of a sea view refused. It really depends on how much difference (if any) the garages make and how close you are to the bottom of your band.

Worth a try though?

valmik

thanks for that will give it a try